Parnu airport to be reopened to air traffic

TALLINN – The reconstruction works of the air traffic area of Parnu airport, which began last summer, have been completed and the airport will be reopened to air traffic, the works cost a total of 13.9 million euros.

Flights between Parnu and the island of Ruhnu will resume at the beginning of October. The reconstruction of the passenger terminal and the final completion of the runway are planned for the last days of this year, Tallinn Airport said.

During the works, the runway, which is now 1,970 by 30 meters, was reconstructed, taxiways were widened, the aircraft apron was reconstructed, an automatic weather monitoring system was installed, the airport's lighting system was upgraded and a new maintenance and rescue equipment hangar was built.

As a result of the renovation of the passenger terminal, which will be completed at the end of 2021, the airport will be able to serve 80 arriving and 80 departing passengers simultaneously.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas said that the airport will primarily serve local tourism, but will also open up the possibility of international routes for the region, as in Tartu.

Tallinn Airport's chairman of the management board Riivo Tuvike said that the reconstructed air traffic area is a big step forward in making the Parnu region more attractive and connecting it with the world, which may lead to new developments. 

"Regional airports are an important part of local life, acting as a catalyst for the business environment and creating the conditions for the emergence of new industries and businesses. The responsibility for attracting companies to the region lies with the local community, but our desire here is to help Parnu," he said.

In early July of last year, Tallinn Airport announced that it had signed an agreement on the reconstruction of the air traffic area of Parnu airport with the companies AS TREV-2 Grupp and Wesico Project OU, which had made a joint bid.